Red Bull suffered two retirements during the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, but incredibly, Max Verstappen still won the race.
Sergio Perez’s collisions with Lewis Hamilton and Kevin Magnussen meant he needed to be replaced twice before exiting the race on lap 15 Separate front wings.
But 25 laps later, Perez returned to the race and received a penalty. Red Bull clarified to the FIA that he could return to the track, take a slight lap, take the penalty and retire a second time.
Perez’s return means the penalty will not carry over to the Qatar Grand Prix, but leaves him in the strange position of retiring twice in the same race.
As you might expect, F1 fans on Twitter (or
There were also claims that Perez caused harm to others and himself by driving a bumper car on the track, while others claimed that Perez’s crazy day deserved an early start for British viewers.
The best Perez memes and reactions from F1 Twitter
Retire and not retire.Perez’s car is F1’s version of Brett Favre@pitlane_girl #F1 Free Trade Zone #japangrand prix pic.twitter.com/l2yjPEhsea
— Tim Wagner 🏁🎳📷🚗 (@timwagner66) September 24, 2023
Perez retired again. We’ve seen this before…@pitlane_girl #F1 Free Trade Zone #japangrand prix pic.twitter.com/RgYp8auaww
— Tim Wagner 🏁🎳📷🚗 (@timwagner66) September 24, 2023
Every rider watching Sergio Perez get back on track pic.twitter.com/gXdIKsF7y4
— Andy (@iiumminateandy) September 24, 2023
Double RB DNF by Perez…twice pic.twitter.com/jCXN88jLa7
—Nod D Skywalker (@noddyatthedisco) September 24, 2023
Sergio Perez #japangrand prix pic.twitter.com/i7FaSR4d2V
— Maher 🇹🇷🇬🇧 (@ScrewderiaF1) September 24, 2023
I don’t enjoy watching Perez on the track, let alone sitting in the garage all the time.
— spanner 🔧🔧 (@SpannersReady) September 24, 2023
Sergio Perez Today pic.twitter.com/aTn2sQpyPa
— F1 TROLL (@f1trollofficial) September 24, 2023
Perez really played bumper cars again today pic.twitter.com/dj0Sos5ieU
— Stephanie (@fastpitstop) September 24, 2023
Perez: “The car doesn’t feel right…”
And Perez:#F1 #japangrand prix #P1 @pitlane_girl pic.twitter.com/rpQwsw0X9I— Jonty (@Jontys_Corner) September 24, 2023
Watching Perez dnf twice for this game is worth getting up at 7 a.m.😂
— Joe 🦡 (@itsIightsout) September 24, 2023